Brassiere



E. P. RIES BRASSIERE Feb. 20, 1951 Filed June 9, 1948 INVENTOR. ERNESTINE P. R: Es,

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRASSIERE Ernestine P. Ries, Delray Beach, Fla.

Application June 9, 1948, Serial No. 31,929

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in brassires, or as commonly known, bra.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bra constructed for adequate support of the breasts by a simple cord or neck band, together with wrap around waist bands, thus eliminating the undesirable shoulder straps commonly employed.

A further object of the invention resides in the improved bra formed with cup supports for the breast and having supporting tapes or bands so arranged and connected as to cause the cups to snugly embrace the breasts by the simple expediency of a neck cord or supporting member and wrap around extended ends to the tapes.

Another object resides in the particular manner of attachment of the tapes for presenting the maximum support of the bra to the contour of the body of the user, preventing shifting or distortion of the bra in use.

Another object is the extreme simplicity of the bra, embodying the very desirable features of a backless bra, with the only supporting means being a very inconspicuous cord about the neck, yet presenting a snug fitting garment amply supported and secured about the Waist of the user.

Other important objects of the invention will readily present themselves during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bra constructed in accordance with the invention and in use, and

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the bra in extended position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the bra as a whole, embodying cupped portions 6, preferably formed of a single piece of material, although obviously the device may be fabricated from a number of pieces. The cups are caused to maintain their contour by any convenient means, such as wire reinforcing,- indicated generally in dotted lines at I. The cups and the surrounding material assumes a generally wedge shape and terminate upwardly in points 8 and 9. The lower portion of the bra is preferably formed straight and a connecting section of webbed resilient material is fitted therein, secured to the area of material surrounding the cups, as shown at If).

Non-elastic supporting tapes I I and I2 are stitched to the bra in diagonally disposed rela tion, crossing each other at approximately a point I3 and passing under the cups 6 in opposite directions, following generally the curvature of the cups. The tapes are extended beyond the terminal ends of the bra and are adapted in use to be wrapped about the waist of the user in opposite directions, terminating at the front of the user, where they are secured together in any convenient manner, such as by snap or hook fasteners. The tapes firmly support the bra in close contact to the breasts and body of the user. The tape II is extended upwardly, as at I5, to be passed about the neck, as shown in Figure 1, and is provided with a snap or hook fastener at its free end, as at [6, to engage a companion fastener at the point 9 of the bra. However, the extended end I5 may be dispensed with and a relatively thin inconspicuous cord substituted therefore, fixed at the point 8 and either provided with a separable fastener at its opposite end or permanently fixed at the point 9. The tape or cord I5 forms a loop to be supported upon the neck and serves as a vertical support for the bra, transmitting its supporting pull through the tapes II and I2 for providing a lifting action to the cups 6, maintaining a firm support of the breasts.

Side tapes I1, either elastic or non-elastic are stitched along the outer ends of the bra and generally follow the contour of the cups. The tapes II extend from the points 8 and 9 and terminate at the lower terminal points of the bra, as at I8. The tapes provide a supporting medium substantially throughout the area of the cups, causing the cups to snugly embrace the at the same time maintaining a snug engagement of the bra.

In use, the cord is placed about the neck and the cups engaged over the breasts snugly. The bra is then drawn down closely to the body and the tapes I I and I2 passed about the waist in opposite directions and brought around to the front, where they are secured together by the fastener I4. The elastic webbing Ill firmly engages the body and permits the cups to more evenly adjust themselves to the breasts. Throughout the use of the bra, the continued upward pull of the cord I5 upon the tapes ,H, I 2 and I1, maintains a constant restricting force to the tapes to continually snugly embrace the breasts.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a very desirable and highly efiicient bra has been provided. The conventional objectionable shoulder straps have been eliminated, making the bra particularly adaptable for formal dress, while the cordabout the neck provides adequate support and'may be made of any inconspicuous material. The bra is simple in construction, strong durable, cheap to manufacture and is extremely practical as a snug fitting garment supportedin' 'a most novel manner.

It is to be understood, that the iye n-tion'is not limited to the precise arrangement shown, but

that it includes wihin its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claim.

Having described my. invention; what ;.I claim is: z

A bra of the vcharacter described formed ofiia air. of wedge shaped" sections of textilemater rial spaced apart and united by an" elastic webping, the wedge shaped sectionsrarran ed; with their apexes upward, a preformedyreinforced breast supporting eupscarried by each section substantially; centrally thereof and in vertical alignmentwith the apexes; .tapesystitched foo-the wedge shaped sections beginnin-gaat the apexes and passing: downwardly in; opposite direetions to cross atan approximatehorizontalreenter line of the cups and passing beneath the cups, said tapes stitched throughout the area of the wedge shaped sections and extended beyond the outer .lower extremeties of the wedge shaped sections separable fastener element carried by the apex of the opposite wedge shaped section.

ERNESTINE P. RIES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi -this patent:

UlSTIlEDv STATES PATENTS Number Name: .Dat 3,023,612" Park etxal. nun-M,- D c. 10, .1935 2,202,058 Malnick 1,- May-218, 419% 2,445,449. Moon .V July, '20, 1. 513 2,454,151 Glick Nov. 15, 19%

FOREIGN'PATENIS' 1 Number; Country. 7 Date 7 495,600: France-, rn dul 5,.19i9 

